New blast near oil port Fos-Lavera, traffic normal

PARIS/MARSEILLE Jan 12 (Reuters) - Fire fighters reported a
blast at a petrochemical site in Fos-Lavera on Wednesday, the
second incident in less than a week in the sprawling industrial
zone, but traffic at the nearby oil terminal was not affected.

No one was injured in the incident, which occured just
before 0400 GMT on the site of petrochemical plant Compagnie
Petrochimique de Berre, a unit of U.S. group LyondellBasell
(LYB.N: Quote).

The aftermath of the explosion and an ensuing spill of oil
products have now been brought under control, rescue teams told
Reuters.

A spokeswoman at LyondellBasell said a fire started in a
trench on the site of Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre and that
an investigation was being carried out to find out what caused
the blast.

"We have heard an explosion but this was a fire really. We
are still investigating," she said, adding this had not affected
LyondellBasell's neighbouring refinery.

"There has been no consequence, no injury, no output
interruption and no consequence for the environment."

This incident came barely a week after an explosion killed
one worker at a different chemical site, Gazechim, which is also
located in Fos-Lavera. [ID:nLDE70511Y]

Authorities at the Mediterranean port of Fos-Lavera, one of
the world's biggest oil terminals, said traffic was not affected
by Wednesday's incident.

"The port is not concerned. Traffic is normal," said a port
spokeswoman.